HEALTHIER LUNCH, MADE EASY

A HEALTHY LUNCH can make your afternoon much more enjoyable and productive. Many people find that it’s hard to make it a regular habit, though. A few of the main reasons my clients share are feeling like they don’t have enough time to make lunch or feeling like they shift into autopilot mode and reach for unhealthy comfort foods after a stressful morning when they’ve been working hard and have decision-making fatigue.

Here are a few of the game-changing tips that will help make it easier to enjoy a healthy lunch, especially if you’re eating outside of your home.

Meal prep

Making sure to have some healthy foods you enjoy on hand makes it easier to assemble them into balanced meals throughout the week. You can batch-cook ingredients to throw together or assemble into different meals.

Pack lunch while you make dinner the night before

It sounds so simple but it’s very powerful. As you plate your dinner, put leftovers into a to-go container for the next day. One of my favorite hacks is to put leftover meat and vegetables over greens. You could also repurpose stir-fry or use cooked protein in a sandwich.

Buy lunch at the beginning of the day

Some stores, delis, and cafes sell lunch foods starting early in the morning, so if grabbing what you know you need for lunch on your way to work early in the day cuts down on the chaos in the brain that sets in around noon, do it. It doesn’t have to be crazy-early, either. You could go buy lunch around 11 a.m., just before the rush, even if you don’t intend to eat for another few hours. Just make sure you store your food properly to avoid spoilage!

Keep track of your favorite takeout and grab-and-go options

Knowing what makes you feel nourished and satisfied is a good starting place for building a list of go-to lunch options. You can keep a mental list or make an actual list on your phone or computer. This will save you time and mental energy later.